The ease of Amtrak Acela service between Boston and New York as well as between New York and Washington, D.C. is well known among business travelers who reside in the Northeast.
The train might not always be the most affordable choice.
The advantage is that it drops you off in the heart of each city on the Acela route.
For New York City, in particular, arriving at Penn Station rather than LaGuardia Airport (LGA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) can save you hours that you would otherwise spend stuck in traffic and airport security lines at particular times of the day.
Compared to the slower Metroliner trains that run all across the Northeast, the Acela trains are more pleasant.
Additionally, they offer advantages like quicker, more dependable Wi-Fi.
Additionally, for as long as I can remember, the Acela trains have included first-class cars.
As a frequent business traveler who uses Amtrak to get between New York and Washington, D.C., I frequently consider whether it would be worthwhile to upgrade to first class.
However, the cost of a first-class seat compared to a typical Acela seat (also known as a business class) has always been significantly higher than I was ready to pay.
Fortunately, the difference in price between the two grades of service on a recent trip was smaller than I can recall.
That was sufficient motivation for me to attempt the first-class upgrade on the Acela, and I scheduled two train rides for two days' worth of meetings.
One was from Boston to the stunning, brand-new Moynihan Hall at Penn Station in New York.
The second journey, which included a stop in New York, went from Penn Station to Union Station in Washington, D.C.
First-class upgrades cost an additional $70 when leaving Boston and about $90 when traveling from Penn Station to Washington, D.C.
It really was a story of two very contrasting experiences.
Amtrak Acela first class from Boston to New York
Only a short distance from Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston is South Station, where Acela trains depart.
Although the Amtrak website does not indicate a station lounge there, some Acela trains also make stops at Back Bay Station.
With first-class tickets for the Acela, Amtrak provides access to its station lounges.
If you have elite status with Amtrak Guest Rewards Select Plus or Select Executive, you can also enter.
Alternately, Amtrak also offers daily lounge access permits for purchase.
The cost for access is $35 per passenger per day at Boston's South Station and $50 at Moynihan Hall.
The website for Amtrak provides information on each lounge.
I spent some time wandering around South Station after arriving before spotting a small waiting room for Amtrak passengers.
Almost all of the seats in the small space were occupied.
I discovered a set of glass doors leading to a staircase to the left of the seating area.
The station lounge was located up the flight of steps, according to a notice on the entrance.
I rang the doorbell and spoke to an Amtrak employee before being buzzed in and making my way upstairs to the lounge.
I received a prompt check-in from an Amtrak attendant who also directed me to a modest, self-service snack area.
The worker also mentioned that I could order from a slightly bigger selection of hot drinks that the club staff could make for me.
However, the club's selection was fairly constrained.
The club, which also served as a satellite police station, had seats for a few dozen individuals.
Despite the fact that the room had some wear and tear, there were quite a few electrical outlets.
Additionally, the lounge had its own restrooms.
In essence, it was a calm waiting area with a complimentary bag of peanut M&Ms.
I first saw first class once I was on the train.
The first-class seat seemed extremely familiar even though it had been nearly three years since my last Acela flight.
I made my way over to examine the nearby business-class car.
With only a small color difference from the first class section, the seats and spacing looked to be identical.
So far, I had spent an additional $70 on a seat and a bag of M&Ms.
It was evident that I was losing.
I still had the dinner service, though, to save me.
I received a miniature bottle of Fiji water from an Amtrak employee.
Things were beginning to improve.
The waiter then gave me a menu and inquired as to whether I would like a drink (I politely declined).
Shortly after we left Boston, the attendant came back to inquire about my lunch preference.
The souffle seemed like something I should stay away from, and I didn't think Amtrak would do well with the lamb.
I inquired as to whether I could order both the cheese and fruit plate and the buffalo chicken salad, but I was told I could only choose one.
In a word, the salad was terrible.
The chicken was either extremely overdone or still half frozen (or both).
The carb lover in me believed the accompanying chocolate chip cookie would provide comfort.
The cookie was, in fact, lemon blueberry taste.
Let's just call it "interesting."
Thank goodness, a short while later, the waiter replaced it with a cheese and fruit platter.
With the exception of the second lemon blueberry cookie, I thoroughly enjoyed the cheese and fruit.
(I should say here that I don't usually pay too much attention to the food on trains or on flights.
It seemed reasonable to provide some information about the caliber and worth of the dinner, though, given that the remainder of the improved experience was of dubious value.)
Fortunately, I still had a chance for Acela's first class to turn things around.
Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge at Penn Station Moynihan hall
I was prepared to take the Amtrak home after a few days of business meetings.
I prefer Amtrak because of its versatile alternatives for bringing bags on board.
In order to pick up precious cargo in New York City, I brought a compact, foldable bag with me on my journey.
As I made my way to Penn Station, my additional bag was fully loaded with three dozen bagels and two pounds of Italian cookies after visits at Murray's Bagels and La Bella Ferrara Bakery.
If you're familiar with Penn Station, Moynihan Hall is where Amtrak trains now depart from.
The former Postal Service building, one block west of Penn Station, is where you'll locate the entrance.
The Metropolitan Lounge entrance is located closest to the southeast corner of the structure at 8th Avenue and 31st Street.
The lounge is situated one level above the main hall and officially inaugurated at the start of 2021.
One of the few public seating spots in the hall is a small area located outside the lounge's entrance.
It is not immediately apparent, but you must check in with an Amtrak representative who works a counter at the top of the escalator.
There are four different seating places in the Moynihan Hall station lounge, which is rather big.
There are luggage lockers at the entryway (apparently without the ability to actually lock them).
A tiny seating space with a TV is located behind the lockers.
More plush chairs and several areas where you can use your laptop are located farther into the lounge.
There is also a sizable eating area with a range of table sizes.
I found the balcony section of the lounge, which looked out into Moynihan Hall, to be the most alluring part of the space.
Sitting on the balcony and observing people race to their trains, I found it to be somewhat serene.
The high ceilings in the hall did an excellent job of reducing noise, and the seating was quite well spaced out.
There are several food and drink options at the lounge's far end.
The bar area was still closed when I left in the morning.
The remaining food and drink selections were a mix of self-service and things that the lounge employees had made.
Although I don't consider myself a coffee expert, the combination of self-serve drip coffee and specialty coffees made by the staff should appease many caffeine addicts.
The breakfast options offered were also things that people would actually want to consume.
All of the breakfast sandwiches, fresh fruit, and yogurt parfaits looked enticing.
It felt like the perfect thing to bring on the train would be grab-and-go foods like salads and pre-packaged avocado toast.
Staff assistance was required to obtain these products, and it wasn't obvious whether there was a limit on the number you could ask for.
A breakfast sandwich and some bagel chips were cheerfully delivered upon my request.
The lounge's Wi-Fi was reliable and fast.
I didn't perform a speed test, but I was able to work for more than an hour without interruptions, including downloading files and streaming music.
You can also use a computer or print a document in the small business area.
The lounge's only drawback was that I had to leave to catch my train to Washington, D.C.
As the time to board drew near, I went to the front desk to ask about the whereabouts of my train.
The staff informed me that it was a little behind schedule and that they would issue a statement once it had been given a track.
Sadly, general boarding had already been called in the main hall by the time they decided to do so.
One of the few drawbacks of Moynihan Hall is that it didn't actually increase Penn Station's train capacity.
It merely made the waiting area larger (and much better).
For the majority of train platforms in the previous Penn Station, there were numerous staircases.
For getting on trains in Moynihan Hall, it is not the case.
You must navigate the crowds just like everyone else because there is no special entry from the lounge to the racetrack.
Amtrak Acela first class from New York to Washington
Unsurprisingly, the first-class cabin on my train from Boston to Washington, D.C., and the cabin on my train to Boston earlier in the week were the same.
When I boarded on this particular occasion, I wasn't given a bottle of Fiji.
As our train departed the station, I asked for one, and after distributing menus, a service member delivered it to me.
I thought it would be best to go with eggs for breakfast out of a variety of mediocre-looking options.
The eggs, however, were not very good.
Experienced business travelers know not to rely on the airlines for top-notch grub, and it seems that the same rule applies to Amtrak's first-class fare.
Most certainly, a freshly made breakfast sandwich in the cafe car would have been preferable.
I had a smooth ride the rest of the way from New York to Washington, D.C.
Almost all of the seats in the first-class car were occupied, and the service ended shortly after breakfast was provided.
In conclusion
My two Amtrak first-class travel encounters were a mixed bag, with the majority being underwhelming given the premium cost I paid.
Purchasing a normal business class fare is remarkably comparable to the onboard experience.
With the exception of the leather hue, the seats are identical.
Additionally, there is little difference in seat spacing, and the meal service is mediocre.
Boston's lounge is peaceful, yet it seems worn out.
However, the lounge in Moynihan Hall is magnificent and might perhaps rival any domestic U.S. airport lounge run by the airlines (the only exception being the AMEX Centurion lounges).
An airport lounge and a lounge at a train station do differ in one significant way, though.
Early arrival is required for security at airports, and connecting flights are frequent.
Delays sometimes result in extra time at the airport, which can be used for productive lounge time.
The benefit of taking the train versus a flight is the flexibility to arrive at the last minute.
The main benefit of the Acela line, according to many business passengers, is that it saves time.
It is simple to work a full day and sprint to catch a train, arriving with little time to spare, as opposed to taking a car or metro to an airport outside of Manhattan.
I don't think I will ever again make the early arrival for a first-class train ride, at least not as a business traveler.
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